Books to Read to Become That Girl (or guy!)
These books have all been essential to my own personal development journey. I know you’ll find them highly valuable too!
I picked one book for each of the following categories: Success, Mindset, Self Love, Romantic Love, Finance, and Sober Curious.
for Success…
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Atomic habits is a practical, easy to digest instruction manual on how to form new, positive habits and break bad ones. The author explains how we teach ourselves habits in the first place (cue > craving > response > reward) from a psychological standpoint.. and how we can use this knowledge to either reinforce or interrupt the cycle, depending on your goal. I love that he explains how habits help us by making room in our minds for more important decision making. It’s incredible how many things we already do on autopilot, and the author explains how we can use this to our advantage by habit-stacking.
Order this book if you are serious about becoming the best version of yourself, with the goal of improving by 1% each day.
BONUS: Here’s a blog post I wrote that was inspired by this book, about how to use habits to change your relationship with alcohol!
for mindset…
Your Brain is Always Listening by Dr. Daniel G. Amen, MD
A few years back I became obsessed with neuroplasticity. This refers to the brain's ability to modify, change, and adapt both structure and function throughout life and in response to experience.
This means that you can literally change your own brain—not just your thoughts, but your actual gray matter… if you give it the right messages, eat the right foods, avoid harmful substances and don’t bonk yourself in the head (i.e. play football.)
Doctor Amen gets into all things brain-related, from automatic negative thoughts, to habits, to ADHD, to addiction and a whole lot more. Read this book if you want to fall in love with your brain, and invest in taking care of it now so it will be healthy and serve you for the rest of your life.
This book isn’t quit lit, but I love it for anyone who is working on changing their relationship with alcohol.
for self love…
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
I call this book “My Spirituality Bible,” and I don’t say that lightly!
“You Can Heal Your Life has transformed the lives of millions of people. This is a book that people credit with profoundly altering their awareness of the impact that the mind has on health and wellbeing.
In this inspirational book by the late world-renowned bestselling author and self-help pioneer Louise Hay, you’ll find profound insight into the relationship between the mind and the body.
Exploring the way that limiting thoughts and ideas control and constrict us, she offers us a powerful key to understanding the roots of our physical dis-eases and discomforts. Full of positive affirmations, this practical guidebook will change the way you think forever!
Louise Hay, bestselling author, is an internationally known leader in the self-help field. Her key message is: "If we are willing to do the mental work, almost anything can be healed." Louise Hay had a great deal of experience and firsthand information to share about healing, including how she cured herself after being diagnosed with cancer.”
(Description from Amazon.com)
for romantic love…
How to Be Single and Happy by Dr. Jennifer Taitz
This book was an absolute GAME CHANGER for me earlier this year, when I was reeling after my toxic four year relationship came to a screeching halt. It completely changed my perspective on what it means to be single… and how to establish a healthy mindset and a meaningful life, with or without a partner.
“If you’re tired of swiping through dating apps, ghosting, and hearing well-meaning questions about why you’re still single, it’s hard not to feel “less-than” because you haven’t found your soul mate. Until now.
How to Be Single and Happy is an empowering, compassionate guide to stop overanalyzing romantic encounters, get over regrets or guilt about past relationships, and identify what you want and need in a partner.
But this isn’t just another dating book. Drawing on her extensive expertise as a clinical psychologist, as well as the latest research, hundreds of patient interviews, and key principles in positive psychology, Dr. Jennifer Taitz challenges the most common myths about women and love (like the advice to play hard to get).
And while she teaches how to skillfully date, she’ll also help you cultivate the mindset, values, and connections that ensure you’ll live your best, happiest life, whether single or coupled up.”
(Description from Amazon.com)
for finance…
I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi
The only finance book I’ve ever read, and the only one I ever plan to read. It’s that good!
Ramit is HILARIOUS! This book is so witty, I found myself cracking up on the Subway. He breaks things down in a way that’s super easy to understand, and gets you excited about making, SPENDING, saving, and investing money... even for someone as clueless about finance as I used to be!
Thanks to the author’s helpful techniques, I no longer feel guilty about spending lavishly on the things I love, because I also know now when to be frugal, all my accounts are automated so I do literally nothing and my bills and credit cards get paid on time. Plus, I’m investing every single month for my future.
Game changer! I still can’t believe I actually enjoyed a finance book, plus it’s approved by my Dad, who really knows his shit when it comes to money.
for sober curious…
Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You by Karolina Rzadkowolska
Karolina Rzadkowolska is an alcohol-free thought leader, coach, author, and podcaster… and she also happens to be my coach/mentor!
It’s an honor to know her and learn from her, as her work has been a guiding light in my own journey to alcohol-freedom. She’s also just a really lovely and warm person, whose energy is infectious.
Karolina’s best-selling book, Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You was the final piece to the puzzle for me in making the decision to stop trying to moderate and instead release alcohol from my life for good. It’s my favorite of all the “quit lit” books I’ve read, and I’ve devoured them all!
This book is so special because it allowed me to finally grasp the limitless possibilities of what my life could look like if I stopped letting alcohol hold me back from my full potential. When we are stuck in an unhelpful drinking cycle, it’s so easy to focus on what we think we will be giving up if we quit drinking; this book is a great reminder of how much you can actually GAIN. (Which is literally everything!!)
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Rooting for you always,
Gretchen
I’m Gretchen Kamp.
I’m an 5X ICF-Certified Personal Development Coach, specializing in mindset, success and alcohol-freedom. I went from unfulfilled, anxious and using wine to cope with life’s challenges… to confident, sober, aligned and IN LOVE with life in full HD.
The progress I’ve made has completely transformed my life. Now I’m sharing my story and offering one-on-one coaching to help other intentional high performers (like you!) step into the dream version of themselves.